Page 25 of The Monster's Mate

She flinches when I brush her leg with a tentacle, backing away from me.

But that one touch was all I needed. She tasted of… disgust. Regret.

I was the only male she’d ever had. It wasn’t a gift she gave me. She used me, she feels nothing for me.

She regretted that I was the only male ever available to her, but she took the one opportunity she ever had.

With that, I flee out the back door, the glass doors, leaving them wide open as I flee into the shadows.

Good thing it’s night.

Chapter Seven

Skiden:

Of all the creatures to hunt, I went after awritshak. Usually, it takes two Bronians to hunt the beast, but I figure this will wear me out enough to sleep soundly tonight. I haven’t slept through a night since the last time I held Lucy in my arms.

Mikhail never said a word when I contacted him early for a lift back to the portal from the unpopulated lands where the river flows, miles from her home. I didn’t offer an explanation of why.

From behind the tree, downwind of the creature, I stare at the body of thewritshak, catching my breath. The fight to kill it dragged on and on and felt like most of the day passed, though it couldn’t have since the sun hasn’t shifted much. And now that I’m exhausted, I have to contend with the kill. I should have thought this through better. It’s heavy all in one piece. But still heavy when I slice it… and then have to struggle with more pieces. I should have brought a cart. Anything.

“Were you going to drag that back or prepare and package it here?”

I whirl around to see Mejak and Kalrian, two hunters that are on Tiran’s rotation. Closer than that, they are my brother’s friends. When I was younger, I was jealous of his best friends. They always had his back… and no one had mine.

But I didn’t need it. I was privileged, my patron was the leader of the clan. Tiran had no one. He deserved his best friends and part of me knew that.

“And then drag all the individual cuts back?” Kalrian says.

Mejak chuckles. It’s the exact dilemma I was pondering.

“Did you two follow me?” I growl.

Neither bothers to hide it.

“Maybe,” Kalrian says.

“Yes,” Mejak says at the same time.

“If I wanted company, I would have brought a partner.”

“And if we didn’t think you were going to do something so dangerous, we would have let you,” Mejak points out.

“Or I guess we could have stayed out of it. And sent Bronan. Or even Tiran,” Kalrian says.

Mejak grins, showing all his teeth. “I’d say you’re lucky to have us. Let’s carry this down to the water’s edge and prepare the meat, shall we? Because I’m not struggling with you two to carry that thing back.”

As much as I’d like to pretend otherwise, I’m glad for the help as we bend to pick it up. Each grunts and they sway under the weight of the animal. It’s fattening up for winter and is larger than usual.

Again, it wasn’t the best thought-out plan.

“Gives Tiran a run for the title of best hunter,” Kalrian grimaces under his breath. “Why are we helping out again?”

But it’s Mejak who lets me know the reason with his response.

“You’ve been alone a lot since your trip to Earth,” he says.

“Tiran ask you to check up on me?”

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